Process of making calcium or other metal nitrocarbid.



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UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFIcE.

' JAMES HENRY REID, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONALNITROGEN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF MAKING CALCIUM OR OTHER METAL NITROCARBID.

No Drawing.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HENRY REID, a citizen of the United States,residing at 352 Mulberry avenue, county of Essex, State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesof MakingCalcium or other Metal Nitrocarbid, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the fixation of nitrogen and the making ofmetal nitro-carbids, such ascyanamids, and .comprises combiningnitrogen, while under super-atmospheric pressure, with metal 1 andcarbon by exposing metal carbid to the action of nitrogen and heat,while under superatmospherie pressure, in such a manner that the carbidis applied to the nitrogen at a temperature sufficient to elevate thenitrogen to a point suitable for its combination or re- 3 action andfixation while under pressure and particularly by introducing moltenmetal carbid, such as calcium carbid, into nitrogen which is undersuper-atmospheric 'p-ressure, and performing the fixation of thenitrogen upon cooling of the carbid to the;

combining point, with the simultaneous heating of the nitrogen whileunder pressure to the initial combining point, in contradistinction toand from the prior art which reveals the supplying of heat and nitrogento metal carbid to elevate the temperature up to a comblning point or,change it from a lower tov a higher temperature instead of from a higherto a lower temperature which constitutes one of the features of thepresent invention.

As an example of the process the making of calcium nitrocarbid, such ascalcium cyanamid, from calcium carbid by the action of nitrogen underpressure will be taken.

Calcium carbid in a molten state and preferably that which is freshlyreduced and made or tapped from afurnace where formed, is introducedinto a suitable chamber containing nitrogen gas, which is preferablyunder a pressure of six atmospheres and allowed to fall through theatmosphere of compressed nitrogen until the nitrogen combinedtherewith't'hrough the cooling of the carbid and simultaneous heating ofthe nitrogen gas creating a temperature selec- ,tive to the combinationwhich results inthe formation of.calcium niti'e n-arbid, such ascyanamid, and free carbon in accordance Specification of Letters Patent.

in the city of Newark,

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed June 28, 1915. Serial No. 36,659.

with the following chemical reaction or equat1on:

CaC +2N+pressure+heat= CaCN As the carbid seizes the nitrogen and fixesthe same, more nitrogen is supplied from time to time to compensate forthat com-' bined, provided any is required over that sufficient tosatisfy the carbid in its conversion.

The heat necessary for the initiation or starting of the reaction iscarried with the carbid and hence is more ositive and controlled and ofgreater heating effect than in the prior art where heat from exteriorcombustion or other means is passed through a retort or container toheat cold carbid which results not only necessarily in expense by lossin the production of combustion heat and through heat resistance of theretort but also in difiiculties experienced through the heatnon-conductive carbid together with the surroundin heat non-conductivenitrogen which pro uces a heat condition-almost impossible to control orregulate, thereby increasing the difficulty in maintaining theingredients within or at a temperature selective for complete or quick.conversion of carbid int cyanamid 'or the'fixation of nitrogen. 3

The heat liberated by the reaction and the heat conveyed to the nitrogenthrough the medium of molten carbid coact to facilitate thetransformation of the carbid and fixation of the nitrogen which fixationprogresses after the starting of the reaction and adjusts thetemperature with the production of product. a Any suitable carbid may beemployed instead of calcium carbid and the carbld may be of simple,compound, composite or complex nature, such as double carbids of calciumand hydrogen, calcium and barium, etc., without departing from. thespirit of the invention, so longas the molten carbid is introduced inthe nitrogen or nitrogen carrying yielding ordelivering substance suchas bituminous coal, at elevated temperatures preferably induced byelectrical resistance, which results in a carbid which melts and flowsat a lower temperature than that ordinarily obtained because of its containing hydrogen in the combination or association which alsofacilitates the conversion into cyanamid in accordance with thefollowing chemical formula or equation equation By subjecting metalcarbict, such as calcium carbid, to the action of nitrogen underpressure, the earbid being introduced in a molten state and more perfectconversion of the carbid into nitro-carhid, such as cyanamid, isaccomplished in less time and in a more perfect and controlled mannerand at lower temperatures than under ordinary atmospheric pressurewhereby a longer period or Wider scope of temperature Within whichnitrogen combines with the carhid results.

The nitrogen may be supplied from time to time to maintain the pressureand a sufficient supply of nitrogen to combine with the metal carbiddesired to be transformed into nitro-carbid or cyanamid.

The pressure is found to be preferably about six atmospheres when theconversion of calcium car-bid into calcium nitro-carhid or cyanamid bythe action of nitrogen is desired but any selective pressure may beemployed in connection with the calcium can bid or other metal carbiclor hydrocarbids desired Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

greater than that of atmospheric under normal conditions, \'iz.:l5pounds to the square inch, and is not intended to limit the operationprocess to any particular pressure which may ditler according to thecharacter of the material to which hined therewith.

3. '1 process of making metal nitro-carlndn which comprises exposingmolten I l carbid to the action of nitrogen while mder superatrnosphericpressure.

0. The process oi making metal nitrocarbid which comprises conveyingheat to a Zone of reaction between metal carbid and while undersuper-atmospheric pressure, through the medium of molten or liquefiedmetal cl fbid.

l. The process mahingmetal nitro-earhid uh COIQP'LIeBS introducing amolten calMum-containing carbid into an atmos pliers ot' nitrogemnhichis under superatmospheric pressure, and maintaining the,

association of the ingredients until nitrocn has combined therewith.

bid. which comprises exposing mo ten calcium containing carhid to theaction of nitrogen While under superatmospheric pressure.

(l. The process of making calcium nitrocarhid which comprisesintroducing molten calcium carbid into an atmosphere of nitro gen, whichis under super-atmospheric pressure, and maintaining the association 0:.the ingredients until nitrogen has combined therewith.

7. The process of melting calcitun nitrocarhid, which comprises exposingmolten calcium carbid to the action of nitrogen while undersuper-atmospheric pressure a. The process of making metalnitro-carcarhid which comprises conveying heat to a zone of reactionbetween calcium carbid and nitrogen, While under superatmosphericpressure, through the medium of molten or liquefied metal carhid.

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